ICC code of conduct may 'constrain characters'

England coach Trevor Bayliss expressed this fear in the context of Ben Stokes who got a reprimand from the world governing body for his verbal spat with Indian captain Virat Kohli in the third Test at Mohali. While Kohli was spared any disciplinary process, Stokes received a ticking-off for the ‘inappropriate comments’ he made in response to a ‘send-off’ from the Indian captain after his first-innings dismissal in Mohali. 

The reprimand was accompanied by a demerit point under the ICC’s new code of conduct system — taking Stokes’ tally to two after a similar offence in England’s defeat to Bangladesh in Dhaka in October. The all-rounder has therefore put himself in line for a mandatory ban, for one Test or two oneday internationals, should he double his demerit points at any point over the next two years. Bayliss told Daily Mail he would go with the administrators rather than players who perhaps ought to have a rethink. And he would probably advise Stokes to tone down his verbal showdowns. “I think he’s improving!” he said. “I think at times ICC are almost looking for things. I agree that things have been out of hand in the past, and we don’t want it to go overboard. But sometimes a little bit of by-play between a couple of guys on either side — who are passionate about their cricket and their team — I think it’s good for the game,” Bayliss said. 

Stokes is a crowd-pleaser, and often a match-winner, and Bayliss does not want him to calm down too much. “We’ve just got to be careful ... we (don’t) completely cut that out,’ he cautioned. “I think having some personalities in the game is fantastic to watch. I think it’s part of the game. But he’s got to learn to deal with it in a different way ... or get away with it a bit better. I think he’s come a long way in the last 12 months or so ... and I’m sure he’ll keep improving in that area.” Bayliss believes Stokes’ energy is vital for England. “Some of us are in awe of what he does,” said Bayliss. “He just doesn’t stop. He’s like a wind-up clock. You get him off at the break, wind him up and send him  back out.” England trail 0-2 with two to play after their back-to-back defeats in the second and third Tests. But Stokes already has a century, a half-century and a five-wicket haul on this tour. “I don’t know who was the last overseas player to score a hundred and take a five-for in a Test series over here — especially a pace bowler,” added Bayliss. “That wouldn’t have been done too many times — that’s a feather in his cap.” Stokes is one of few players to stay back in Mumbai, with Bayliss and the management staff, while team-mates take a short break in  Dubai before the fourth Test.